Port Adelaide Fishermen's Wharf Markets, Upstairs at the Bridge end and online

Thursday, 13 January 2011

Summer socks and all manner of knitting goodness

Summer Cotton Wrap

After working on the Summer Cotton Hand-Paint wrap for far too long, I'm still not done playing with this design. I've been trying to construct garments that are simple, down to the basics, but looking at knitting construction and shapes in new ways. When I say new ways, I mean, new to me. I have no doubt cleverer knitters on this rather large planet have thought of these things previously. I'm a firm believer than the knitting process is highly personal. What is new to you may be old to someone else, but who cares? Make it if you like it and want to wear it.

This wrap came about because I love modular knitting for summer. Do a bit here, do a bit there. But I am not always fond of the fabric of modular knitting. When a pattern calls for 1400gms of 4ply, I say to myself, damn, that looks fantastic. And sure, the yarn seller in me goes, hey, that's a lot of yarn to make that garment. But I just can't go there. I mean, I would never wear that much wool on my body at once. Maybe if I lived in Nova Scotia I'd think about it.

So, I set about trying to change the math to make something modular and a fabric I could wear most of the year. Eh voila, the Summer Cotton Wrap was born. It will work in other 4ply/fingering wt yarns, so I'm not done playing with this one, that's certain.

Further to the make it and wear it thread... One of my most successful designs continues to be The Coloured Sheep Shawl. The less complicated I made it, the more I had to rethink the whole thing. I really haven't seen another design like it and I guess that's ok.

Stranded Silk Sock in Lone Heart Red 100gm hanks

I've been swatching and playing with this yarn for the past week. It has the most amazing stitch definition and feel to it. Most of the knitters who've purchased this yarn continue to advise that once they get it home, they think it's too nice for socks. Yeah, I know what you mean, but why not pamper your feet? Then again, the drape on this yarn says, please knit me into a cowl or something like that. Thank you to Sr. Joan Mary who has decided just that. I can't wait to see what she knits with it.

For product info, check the SIOz shop -- more yarns have been loaded this week, including sock yarns.

Melissa Deutsch Scott

Stranded In Oz Shop

Clubs For 2013

A Merry Band of Knitters: 6 Installments of mostly 4ply/fingering wt yarn (done in 2 Parts) – for sock knitters and lovers of fine yarn knitting.

Club features: exclusive Stranded In Oz hand-painted, often limited edition mostly 4ply yarns and of course, SIOz best-sellers, such as Glinda, the Good Wool.

If you're interested in seeing the types of yarns and designs in store, have a look at strandedinoz on Ravelry, as well as many issues of YARN magazine, and design listings for yarn companies like SWTC. And socks? I've been designing socks for years and haven't exhausted the possibilities yet!.

Spinning Club for 2013 An Aussie Spinner's Year - 6 installments of spinning fibre fun (done in 2 Parts) –

This club features mostly Stranded In Oz Australian favourites – something for every spinner. You'll get a range of different types of wools, some superfine low micron top, a coloured sheepwool, as well as more unusual blends from both small breeders and commercial preparers.

PRICING: To keep the cost of each club affordable, there will be 100gms of yarn or fibre as well as a little goodie for each pack. You may also get tempted from time to time with samples of other Stranded In Oz fibres and yarns.

Subscribers enjoy a 10% discount on all SIOz fibre purchases (regularly priced items only) during the period of time they are club members.

Shipments generally are sent around the 15th of the delivery month.

Email melissa@strandedinoz.com for yarn or fibre club inquiries.

Ravelry

Join Stranded In Oz on Ravelry

About Stranded In Oz Yarns and Fibres

SIOz is a fibre arts business run by Melissa Deutsch Scott who hand-dyes yarns and fibres in Port Adelaide, SA

"I'm am a firm believer in supporting the people and businesses around my home and that's why I've chosen to trade from my local market. So come up to the Port for a pleasant Sunday of shopping, eating, dolphin-watching, and of course to come and see and feel SIOz yarns and fibres."

SIOz stocks unique fibres from around Australia and the world. At the moment, I'm featuring Australian coloured merino and ethically-traded fibres produced in a small workshop just outside of Katmandu. In addition, I always stock soy yarns and Tofutsies, the soy sock yarn. Soy is an environmentally-friendly fibre that's especially good for Aussie warm weather.